Utilizing NYSERDA's Commercial Tenant Program Effectively

Q&A: What to know about Leveraging the Commercial Tenant Program

On average, tenants control 40-60% of a standard building’s energy consumption, according to NYSERDA. This presents an opportunity for significant energy savings but to maximize these savings, property owners need to fully understand what incentives and programs are available to them. One opportunity in particular is the Commercial Tenant Program, which helps tenants, industry consultants, and landlords improve workplace environments and create more energy efficient spaces.

To help answer some common questions about this program, we’ve put together a brief Q&A.

Question #1: What is the Commercial Tenant Program?

The Commercial Tenant Program provides funding to cover the professional service fees of consultants, offering technical assistance to incorporate energy efficiency in tenant office projects during all phases of a tenants leasing cycle.

Tenants occupying leased office spaces in commercial buildings can take advantage of opportunities to improve their work environments and generate value through strategic energy efficiency upgrades and thoughtful design solutions. In turn, Landlords intent on optimizing the performance of their buildings can engage their Tenants in energy efficiency activities and deliver attractive spaces to high value Tenants.

Question #2: What is covered in the program?

This program provides funding to support energy efficiency initiatives in four distinct areas; opportunity assessment, planning assistance, portfolios strategies and other approaches for energy savings.

In the assessment phase, this funding can cover activities including energy audits, energy modeling, road-mapping, identifying and reviewing energy conservation measures (ECMs), and developing design guidelines for Tenants and Landlords, to name a few.

Moving from assessment to planning, funding can cover early state development and pre-lease planning assistance. Technical support for equipment and installation decision making, identification of incentives and financing options, and assimilation of ECMs into operations plans, all fall under what is covered and, when done right, can lead to future cost and energy savings for years to come.

Tenants and Landlords can also utilize the funding to retain a specialist that will identify exclusive benefits and strategies that can help their portfolio as efficient and comfortable as possible. This may include education and turnkey solutions for the identification, evaluation, prioritization and implementation of energy efficiency measures in leased Office Spaces (NYSERDA).

Question #3: How can Veritas help me take advantage of this program and the savings?

At Veritas Solutions Group, our team fosters a deep understanding of ECM identification and a portfolio of technologies that can help to reduce energy use and create a sustainable, cost saving commercial facility. With our team’s extensive experience and diverse skill set, our goal is to provide you with the necessary support and guidance every step of the way.

As an approved consultant, we believe in the importance of achieving optimal results and in order to do so, preparation is key. We’re here to help you understand all that the Commercial Tenant program has to offer and ways to maximize your savings. Pre-lease or during early stages, our team of experts are readily available whenever you need and will help you get the job done!

Question #4: How much could this save me in costs?

When it comes to particular cost saving benefits, NYSERDA provides full funding for all eligible projects where the Consultant’s technical assistance fees are equal or less than $5,000. NYSERDA will cover 50% of the eligible costs, once final report is approved. For additional details and projects that exceed $5,000, please see below for the following chart from NYSERSA.

Question #5: What should I expect from the process when working with Veritas?

At Veritas, we strive to be that reliable and trustworthy leader you can count on from start to finish. With our distinctive approach, we seek to provide a seamless process through guidance and transparency. For more context, we’ve outlined the below steps of the process. Application. We’re here to help you complete all steps of the application process and provide all necessary documentation. We’re here to ensure all information is accurate, specific deadlines are met and answer any questions you may have along the way. Deliverables. With our knowledge and experience, we will outline all energy efficiency recommendations, address all necessary components and submit a detailed report to the NYSERDA Project Manager and customer.

Payments. According to NYSERDA, they will contribute up to 100% of the project cost directly to the consultant. We’ll handle the behind the scenes, including payment and coordinating with NYSERDA.

Question #6: How can this be used to meet Local Law 97 compliance?

For background, Local Law 97 affects New York City buildings and will pose a limit on the amount of greenhouse gas emissions a building can have. The Commercial Tenant Program can help pay for necessary services that will identify ECMs and energy saving technologies capable of reducing carbon emission so commercial building owners can stay closer to their limits and avoid these potential costly fines. Our goal is to help clients understand the short and long-term options to reduce carbon emissions so that compliance by the 2024 deadline is more achievable. At Veritas, we believe in the importance of comfortable and healthy environments for maximum productivity, and we want to help you take advantage of any and all saving opportunities. When it comes to leveraging the Commercial Tenant Program, our team’s extensive experience can educate and guide you to reach optimal energy efficiency and savings. We’re here to help and provide guidance every step of the way. For more information, visit here to learn more about our work with commercial properties.